Property of Woods, page 9
“Don’t puss out on me. Where’s your sense of adventure? Come on. I don’t want to be out here forever.” She jogs ahead, and I follow even though the blades of grass are scratching at my legs and I’m pretty sure I just saw a spider bigger than my hand.
We walk for what feels like forever and finally we come up on a small cabin that looks more like a shack. There’s no way some weed dealer lives here. What kind of game is she playing?
We get to the cabin and there’s an ATV parked off to the side. Maybe Gabbie isn’t lying, and this is simply where he does his business, but it’s creepy and weird.
I hate everything about this situation. I never should have gotten out of the car.
The porch creaks as we set foot on it, and I swear if a gust of wind blew through right now, it’d take the rickety building with it.
I scratch at my legs, hoping there aren’t any ticks crawling on me.
Gabbie knocks on the door, and it falls open. “Come on.” She shoves me through the narrow doorway and as soon as I cross the threshold, everything goes black. My face is covered with a black bag, and I’m scared that the men Big Daddy warned would come for me have found me.
Someone binds my hands behind me and kicks me to the floor.
“Not such hot shit now, are you? You stupid cunt. Did you think you could show up here and take my place? Woods is mine, you hear me!” Faye screams at me.
Gabbie set me up so that Faye could kill me.
I draw my knees up and kick as someone tries to grab at my ankles.
“Hold her still,” Faye orders.
“I’m trying,” Gabbie whines.
One of them punches me in the stomach, followed by the head.
“I can’t breathe,” I scream.
“You’re going to smother her,” Gabbie complains.
“She’s fine.”
The two of them bicker back and forth. Gabbie is yelling at Faye, saying she told her they were just going to scare me. Only an idiot would believe that.
“I’m not going down for murder. I’m out of here,” Gabbie screeches.
“Go ahead. Stupid pussy, bitch. But one word and you’re dead. You hear me!” Faye screams after her as Gabbie’s footsteps thump across the floor.
Sweat clings to my skin. My head is swimmy, and I’m scared I’m going to throw up, piss myself, or pass out.
Not being able to see or freely move my arms and legs has me spiraling into a panic attack. Tears burn in my eyes, mingling with my sweat. Snot bubbles blow out of my nostrils, rolling down my lips as I sob, begging and pleading for Faye to let me go.
“Shut up. I can’t fuckin’ think with you sniveling like that.”
“I didn’t know he was married when I met him.”
“Oh, fuck off with that. My name is tatted on his ring finger. Everyone knows Woods is mine. He belongs to me. Not the other way around.” She lands another blow to the side of my head that has me seeing stars.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I’m not going to kill you. That’d be too easy. I’m going to take you deep into the woods and if you make it out alive, then good for you. If the bears get you, then no love lost.”
“Please, Faye. If you let me go, I’ll leave and never come back. You’ll never see me again.”
“Get up.” She pulls me up from under my armpit.
I nearly topple back over with the way she has my legs tied together.
She has no clue what she’s doing.
“You know Gabbie will blab to someone. She can’t be trusted.”
“Did I say you could talk? Start walking.”
I try to shuffle forward, and we both go crashing down.
“You stupid, bitch. Ow. Fuck,” Faye cries as she wiggles out from under me.
Seconds later, she’s pulling me to my feet and shoves me onto the back of her ATV, leaving me hogtied.
Chapter Twelve
I wake up to the sound of my brother destroying my kitchen if the loud banging sounds echoing down the hallway are anything to go off. Faye didn’t come home last night, and I really don’t give a fuck where she slept at. I had planned on telling her that she’s right. We aren’t working. We need to end our marriage. Neither of us want to be together. I’ve tried. Given too many chances. But we don’t have any love for each other. I don’t know if we ever did. Jessika has me questioning everything and realizing some harsh fucking truths.
I stumble into the bathroom to take a quick shower before I call church today. I need to get everyone up to speed. Mainly Dirty. I know my brother, and he’ll be ready to jump right back into action. A lot of shit has changed since he went to prison. He thought he was next in line to be Prez when our uncle stepped down, but had he not gone to prison he would have ran this club into the ground. My brother cares about three things. Pussy. Drugs. His bike. And not in that order. He’s selfish and only thinks about himself. Mainly his dick.
When I get out of the bathroom, he’s sitting at the counter feeding Henry pieces of his bacon. “Cute pussy.”
“Don’t give him that shit. He won’t want to eat his own food.”
“Whatever. You got any work I can do? I need to make some cash.”
“We’ll discuss it at church. But if you need some money, I can float you.”
“I’m going to need a place to stay.”
“One of the trailers is empty.”
“Which one? And it better not be Bugs’ old place.” He makes a disgusted shudder, going through the motions of scratching his skin as he sticks his tongue out.
“You look ridiculous and yeah, that’s the one, but I made his ass clean it when he moved in with that bitch he’s shackin’ up with.”
“Someone actually fucks that ugly bastard?”
I lift a shoulder. “There’s someone for everyone.” The someone for me is Jessika.
“Fuckin’ A, man. Must be. Did you ask if she’s his cousin?” He snickers.
“You’re a real sick fuck. Has anyone told you that lately?”
“My cellmate.” He grins and I shake my head.
“Did you make any coffee?”
“Isn’t that Faye’s job?”
“Not anymore.”
“You two having a lover’s quarrel or some shit?” He shoves a handful of bacon in his mouth, talking with his mouth full.
“I don’t know what we’re havin’.”
“What’d you do?”
“Why does it have to be me that’s done something?” I grab a new filter, measure out the coffee grounds, and start the pot.
“It’s the pretty little thing you brought from California, isn’t it? Tell me I’m wrong. That bitch.” He blows out an ear piercing whistle. “Damn, man. I’d like to tap that.”
“Thought you wanted to make some money?” I change the subject to get his focus off Jessika before I have to murder him.
“That’s what I’ve been saying. What you got for your big brother?”
“We’re the same age, dumbass.”
“Mom popped me out of her cooter first.”
“Why do you gotta say it like that?”
“Like what?”
“You make it sound like you were shot of a fuckin’ cannon or something.”
“Maybe I was.”
“And dropped on your head.” I grab a to go cup from the cabinet.
“Where’s mine?”
“You didn’t make me any bacon.” I flip him off and light up a cigarette.
“What’s this job?”
“Someone left a finger at Wet Willy’s. Find out who?”
“Did you call Fletcher?”
“Catfish did. I’m sure if the three of you put your shithead brains together, you can figure it out.”
I start out the door when he hollers, “You didn’t give me any money.”
I go for my credit card, forgetting I never got it back from Low. “Willow has my card. Guess you’ll have to go to Grannie Mags to get it.”
“Forget it,” he says in a huff.
I should tell him to suck it up and deal with it, but my brother is the type that creates a storm, then cries when it rains, so I give him what cash I’ve got on me.
Grannie Mags is still pissed off at him for going to jail. She refused to visit him but stayed on my ass about making sure he had money on his books. He’s just like our old man and it bothers her more than she lets on. Our father was her greatest disappointment. Her biggest heartbreak. Last we heard about him he was in Florida living with his latest sugar momma.
As I’m walking toward the clubhouse, my cell buzzes with a call from Big Daddy on one of his burners. “What’s up?”
“How’s she doing?”
“Good.”
“No problems?”
“Everything’s gone fine.”
“That fucker is in the wind. Gwynee wants to talk to her. She close?”
“I’m about to check in. Give me ten.”
Big Daddy hangs up, and I check the bar for Jess. I don’t see her hanging around and Swift doesn’t think he’s seen her come out of her room. I knock on the door, but there’s no response, so I let myself in.
The room is empty, but the clothes she bought while out with my sister are still here. I find Madz out back watching Dover and Shaggy clean up from last night.
“Where’s Jessika?”
“Oh.” she purses her lips. “She went into town with Gabbie.”
“Gabbie? What the fuck for?”
She taps her chin. “I’m not sure.”
“When did they leave?”
“A few hours ago.”
“You got her number?”
“No, but Kiki probably does.”
“Where the fuck is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“What the fuck do you know?” I raise my voice and she shrinks back. I don’t mean to take my anger out on Madz she just happens to be the closest target.
“I’m sorry. I can call Kiki.”
“Yeah. Do that. Now.”
Madz pulls her phone out of her back pocket, and I try not to lose my fucking cool any further than I already have as she makes the call.
Fuck. I should’ve just stayed in my room with her. Did she play me? Fuck me and wait for the perfect time to take off? Nah. That’s not her. But what do I really know about her?
“She’s texting me her number. Do you want to just call her on my phone, so it’ll be faster?”
“Call her,” I bark.
The stupid cunt doesn’t answer. Fuck me. I should have given Jessika a phone so I could track her ass.
“I can drive to town and see if I can spot Gabbie’s car.”
“Nah, sweets. I’ll get one of the guys on it. Thanks for your help.”
“If I can do anything else, let me know.”
There’s not a damn thing she can do for me unless she can magically teleport me to Jessika.
“Where the fuck is Gray?” I shout and my Uncle Hoss hands me a joint.
I light it up, pulling the smoke in deep. The smoke burns through my lungs but it does nothing to tamper my bad mood.
“Prez, Bugs has Gabbie. He’s bringing her in. Said she tried to run when he started following her. Stupid bitch ran her car into a ditch,” Caves informs me.
“Did she tell him where Jessika is?”
“No. She’s refusing to talk.”
She’ll change her tune when I start ripping her fingernails off. She’d shit her damn pants if I had an electric chair like Big Daddy’s.
This whore doesn’t want to test my patience.
Bugs and Caves tie Gabbie to the chair in the secret room we have in our garage for times such as this.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll start talking.”
“All I know is Jessika told me she wanted to check out some bookstore near the salon I go to. I told her to meet me back in my car, but she never showed up.”
“She’s lying,” Bugs says. “There was a bag from the bookstore in her car.”
“Give me the pliers,” I order Caves.
“Wh-what are you planning to do with those?” Her bottom lip trembles and her eyes glitter with unshed tears. I only hope she doesn’t piss herself.
“Maybe if I take a few fingernails or pull some teeth, you’ll remember the fuckin’ truth.” I’m not going to hurt her. Torturing women isn’t my style, but she doesn’t know that. I squeeze the handle and a tear rolls down her cheek. “Your tears aren’t going to save you.” She won’t get any pity or sympathy from me or my men. The dumb cunt knows all too damn well what happens to anyone who crosses us.
“I’m sorry, okay. Jessika asked me not to tell you, but she said she made a mistake coming here. That she needed to talk to her husband to fix the mess she had made of things. I begged her not to leave, but she wouldn’t listen. She had me drop her off at the truck stop outside of Fayetteville. She was planning to hitch a ride with one of the long haulers.”
“She didn’t take anything with her.”
“I don’t know. She said she had some cash.”
The guys look at me and I don’t want to believe Gabbie, but why would she lie?
And if she’s lying, I’ll yank every tooth out of her head before gifting her ass to the cartel or the Lamb Society. Then she’ll learn how good she had it here and be begging for forgiveness that she won’t receive.
Chapter Thirteen
“You can’t just leave me here.” I have no clue how far we’ve traveled or where we are. I only know that we’ve stopped, and she’s pushed me onto the rocky terrain. I think she may have cracked one of my ribs. I don’t know what she’s planning. She could shoot me and blame it on the cartel and Woods would have no choice but to believe her. I don’t know why she’s doing this. He said she’s not happy and was the first to admit that their marriage is failure. She doesn’t love him.
Maybe he lied to me to get into my pants again. Not that I made it hard for him. All he has to do is look at me and I’m putty in his hands.
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, whore.”
“At least untie me and take this hood off so I can see. You aren’t a killer, Faye.”
“How would you know? You don’t know shit, bitch. You think because he fucked you, he’s going to leave me for you? You’re not the first to try.” She yanks the black fabric from my head.
Blinking my eyes slowly, I allow my eyes to readjust to the sunlight. Thankfully, it’s cloudy, but unfortunately the sky is turning a dark shade of blue. I glance around at my surroundings. She’s brought me deeper into the woods to kill me.
Faye stands over me holding a serrated edged hunting knife. I flinch when she presses the tip under my chin, slightly nicking my skin. There’s pure hatred in her eyes. “Killing you would be too easy.” She flings the knife somewhere between the ATV and the trees. “Good luck getting out of here. You better pray you get loose before the bears find you. I hear there’s a vicious momma bear nearby.”
She climbs back on her four-wheeler, and says, “maybe you shouldn’t fuck other people’s husbands,” and speeds away, throwing dirt and debris all over me. She’s right. I shouldn’t have fucked Woods but I did. This is the consequences of my own actions.
I deserve this and worse.
I’d hate me, too.
I’d want me dead.
The moment she disappears in the distance, I wiggle toward the direction she threw the knife.
I roll around for what feels like hours, but could be mere minutes. Thunder booms in the distance, signaling a storm is brewing, and it’s growing closer. I’m trying not to panic, but desperation is settling in my bones. I’m tired and thirsty. I close my eyes and suck in a deep breath, followed by another. Bugs are biting me and crawling on me.
Faye’s psychotic ass is probably hiding in the bushes somewhere, having a good laugh at my expense. Who would blame her? Maybe her and Woods fight like this all the time.
Does Woods know that I’m missing, or will he think I simply ran away given the opportunity? Tears roll down my cheeks, but I can’t give up. I’m not going to be bear chow.
I’m going to make it out of this alive.
I survived Thad. I can survive this bitch.
I can survive anything life throws at me.
Light rain pelts against my skin. Great. Now I’m going to be muddy too.
I must have someone up above watching over me because, by some miracle, I spot the knife not far from where I’ve wiggled to. It takes some time and not without rocks and twigs digging into my skin. I’ve probably got pebbles embedded in my ass, but eventually I’m able to get hold of the knife. I cut my palm and one of my fingers, but I manage to free my hands, then my ankles. I use the fabric from the black bag she had over my head to bandage my finger. I must’ve gashed it open deeper than I thought, because the wound won’t stop bleeding.
When I was a kid, when my dad was still in the picture, he’d take me camping and he always said if I ever got lost to find water and follow the direction it flows.
I could try going the direction Faye went, but I don’t want to risk another confrontation if she’s still out there. I’m weak from blood loss and need to find a way out of here.
I walk a little way and come across a stream where some white-tailed deer are drinking. They make a huffing noise and bound off into the trees. Too bad I can’t wrangle one and ride it like a horse.
Everything aches as I continue following the water until it eventually runs into the lake. Hope blooms in my chest, because maybe it’s the same lake Woods brought me too.
I walk along the bank, hoping to spot a boat or someone camping. I’m not sure how far I’ve gone when I trip over a piece of driftwood and cry out when I hit my knee hard on a large rock.
“Are you okay, dear?” A gentle female voice questions so soft and low I think I’m imagining the sweet grandma looking woman who is walking up on me.
“I’m lost, and I’m injured.”
“Frank,” she calls over her shoulder. “Get help.”
“Your vitals all look good. Nothing is broken. The baby is doing fine, too,” the nurse tells me and my stomach drops to my feet.
